Don’t answer that… I’m afraid that maybe it is. But look at the beautiful blackened catfish and baked potato above and tell me it’s not a beautiful sight.

Next time you’re near Kentucky Lake, Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, or Land Between the Lakes, plan to have dinner at Willow Pond. The fried catfish AND the blackened catfish are uncommonly delicious, as are the coleslaw, beans (and relish), and hush puppies.

If you’ve ever eaten at Willow Pond in Calvert City, Kentucky, you know how right I am when I say the White Beans with Relish and Vinegar Coleslaw pictured above are even more delicious than they look.

The same can be said for the baked potato, hush puppies, and blackened catfish pictured below. The Calvert City Aurora Pond (as well as the Willow Pond in Aurora, Ky) have great food, reasonable prices, and friendly servers. I’m also blown away – time and time again – by how fast they are.

It always seems like we’re diving right into our delicious food as soon as our server takes our order. They don’t just have ninjas in their kitchen, they have ninjas in sneakers!

Blackened Catfish and a Baked Potato

On our most recent trip to Calvert City’s Willow Pond, I ordered Blackened Catfish with White Beans, a Baked Potato, and Vinegar Coleslaw. I keep wanting to try the mayo version of their coleslaw, but the vinegar coleslaw is so ridiculously delicious I dare not walk away from it.

Their white beans are out of this world good. They’re delicious even without the amazing red relish available on each table – but me and the relish have a thing going and, again, I have no intention of walking away.

I normally order the fried catfish (which is so amazing a poem should be written about it.. heck, even a song…) but this time I went with their Blackened Catfish. It was very, very good. The seasoning was perfect and the fish, themselves, were big, fat, and juicy.

So good!

White Beans and Hush Puppies

My husband actually ordered steak this time and I’m here to tell you the flavor was a TKO – total knock out.

Calvert City’s Willow Pond’s motto should be, “If we’re going to make it, we’re going to make it delicious.”

The next time you’re in the Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and Land Between the Lakes area, you just HAVE to eat dinner at Calvert City’s Willow Pond. You won’t regret a moment OR a bite.

One of our favorite places to eat when we’re at Kentucky Lake is Mama D’s Italian Restaurant in Calvert City

A while back I raved and raved in a Mama D’s Italian Restaurant (Calvert City) Review. I threw adjectives around like they were baseballs in a Spring Training camp. I can’t help myself, really. Food is a great passion of mine, whether I’m cooking or eating, and when I find people excelling in the sport, I get uncommonly excited. I want to tell everyone about it and….. well.. that’s when the adjectives take flight.

Watch your head the adjectives are about to fly again.

I had Mama D’s Italian Restaurant on my mind since our first visit. I kept thinking, “If they made SUCH incredible bread and lasagna, what must their pizza taste like?!”

The mystery was almost more than this pizza fanatic could stand, so when we went back for our second visit, I told my husband (Michael) that, under no conditions, was I leaving that restaurant without trying one of their pizzas.

I kept my word.

Michael ordered a beautiful and tasty chicken and pasta dish – which came with bread and a salad. A very sound, economical decision. I ordered a large pizza.

That’s how I roll.

I knew there’d be no way I could eat the whole thing, but I was up for the challenge. Besides I just knew it’d be so incredible that Michael would jump in to help me out. Plus, taking leftover pizza home always makes us heroes with the kids.

Oh, boy, was I ever right about Mama D’s Pizza. In fact, I honestly don’t recall when I’ve ever been SO right about anything. Every single bite was an experience in and of itself. Heck, just the sight of it, alone, was a culinary adventure. The toppings were incredibly fresh, there was just the right amount of delicious sauce and cheese, and the crust? Wow. I could have eaten the crust all by itself and still been grinning ear to ear.

When our VERY sweet server came by to check on us after we’d been eating for a few minutes, I told her, “This pizza is so fantastic I never want to eat pizza again, just so this can be the last pizza I ever ate.” She laughed and said I’d just have to keep coming back there for my pizza.

Not a problem.

Every single thing they do at Mama D’s Italian Restaurant is first class. THIS is how Italian food is supposed to taste. The herbs and flavors are quite unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else and, trust me, once you go, you’ll return again and again. As soon as you step in the door, the aroma lets you know that you’re in for something extra, extra, extra special.

I’m also in love with the cleanliness of the restaurant and the happy, upbeat, and very friendly servers. Everyone seems genuinely thrilled to see you walk through the door and goes out of their way to make sure you’re well-fed and smiling when you leave.

Mama D’s in Calvert City is one of my favorite Kentucky restaurants – and if you read my restaurant reviews very often, you know that’s saying something. This gal has seen A LOT of restaurants!

I don’t care where you live, you just have to promise me that you’ll visit Mama D’s as soon as possible. Whether you have the lasagna or pizza (the best pizza you’ve probably ever had), you’ll be blown away. Then YOU’LL be spewing adjectives all over the place.

You cannot judge a book by its cover. You cannot judge a book by its cover.You. Cannot. Judge. A. Book. By. Its. Cover.

We spend a lot of time in the Kentucky Lake and Land Between the Lakes region of Kentucky. Beautiful Lakes, several Kentucky State Parks, fried catfish, the Elk & Bison Prairie, The Homeplace – some of our favorite things in the world are in this beautiful area. Just try and keep us away!

We have countless (COUNTLESS) times driven right by Mama D’s on U.S. 62. We had never even looked at the words that are clearly (CLEARLY) hung on the front of the restaurant – Mama D’s Authentic Italian, and yet – there they are in plain sight. We each had simply assumed it was a diner-meets-dive type of place.

Boy was I wrong. In fact, I don’t know when I’ve ever been so wrong. In my defense, Mama D’s Italian Restaurant is only 6 years old this year. So, before they turned this spot into a little piece of Culinary Heaven, maybe it was a diner or a dive or something in between.

I’m not sure words can even describe how far removed Mama D’s actually is from this type of place, but I’m going to summon up all the words I know in this restaurant review and give it a go. I’ll give you a map with directions at the end – believe me, you’ll want it.

When we walked in, my first impression was, “Wow! How pretty!” The colors, decor, and murals on the wall were very unique and, somehow, relaxing and soothing. Whoever was in charge of choosing the color scheme did a bang up job – it’s lovely. There were quite a few people dining in Mama D’s that evening, so I had to wait a little bit for a few tables to clear out before I could snap a few pictures – I didn’t want anyone thinking I was some kind of a nut job.

Another impression left upon me was how incredibly clean and spotless everything was. Sure, I’ve seen clean restaurants before (in fact, most are) but I would have eaten off of the floor , baseboards, or wall. Don’t ask how you can eat off a wall… frankly I have no idea. But you get the point. C-L-E-A-N.

Holy cats, this restaurant is spotless.

I also loved our server. She was equal parts sassy and sweet and if I owned a restaurant, I’d want an entire staff just like her. She knew the menu and foods inside/out and was able to make fantastic suggestions. She wasn’t just “on her game,” she improved upon the game. I was even more impressed with her than the beautiful colors!

The decor, food, and vibe in general defied what you’d expect when you walk through the doors. I love it when a restaurant catches me off guard and that’s exactly what this one did. Mama D’s Restaurant is one in a billion. It’s amazing, authentic Italian food with plenty of everyone’s favorites mixed in. Their Facebook page describes their culinary team as “New York Pizza Man and the cook moved from Italy to New York.”

Where else will you find a menu that includes the following mixture:

Chicken Tenders

Meatloaf w/ Red or Brown Gravy

Fried Catfish (What?!?! OMG, I just looked at the picture I took of the menu and registered that they have fried catfish.)

I ordered the Lasagna, while Michael went with Chicken Parmesan. He chose Linguine as his pasta. We both got a side salad and bread with our meals and ordered “Garlic Knots” (with mozzarella cheese added) as an appetizer. Just feast your eyes on this gorgeous appetizer in the picture above. They were beyond amazing.

The appetizer was out almost immediately and it was super, super fantastic. The bread was obviously homemade and the flavors were straight up Italian – just what you’d expect in an authentic Italian restaurant. There was a wonderful flavor of garlic that made it even more extraordinary. The mozzarella cheese was a wonderful addition, but make no mistake about it, the knots would have been just as fantastic without them.

The beautiful loaf of bread (served with real butter, always a beautiful touch) was also delicious. As I’ve said many times on Genuine Kentucky, I love to cook and baking bread is one of my favorite things – so I can tell when bread is fresh and homemade and when it was frozen in a previous life. This was, quite honestly, some of the best bread I’ve ever had in my life.

At this point – with an appetizer that blew us away and bread (with real butter… get the idea that that’s huge for me?) that was mouth-watering – I knew we were in a special place and that the “main event” would be something we wouldn’t soon forget.

Ding! Ding! Ding! I nailed that one.

First up, my lasagna. The lasagna was what I can only affectionately call, “Freaky good.” It looked completely unlike any lasagna I’ve ever seen (or baked) in my life. Just look at the picture above – I’m almost certain it’s unlike anything you’ve seen as well. After eating the garlic knots and bread like I’d been cut off from food for 4 months, I knew enough to trust whomever was in the kitchen, so I didn’t bat an eye. I just dove right in.

OH – MY – GOODNESS.

The flavors and deliciousness of this lasagna were even more unique and original than its looks. Ironically, the same can be said for the restaurant the lasagna’s made in.

This freakishly fantastic lasagna wasn’t just one of the best lasagnas I’ve ever had, it was one of the most memorable foods I’ve ever gotten in a restaurant. Anywhere. Anytime. Yes, it is that good. The flavors defy description – suffice to say they’re genuinely Italian.

I guess Mama D’s lasagna is a two-story condominium whereas others have three or more stories. Whatever, all the key components are there – ricotta, meat, pasta, mozzarella, and the best sauce you’re going to find anywhere. So much deliciousness, you won’t be able to believe it. Even our side salads were fantastic.

Michael’s Chicken Parmesan and linguine were absolutely delicious. Even if you took the sauce, cheese, Italian seasonings, and pasta away – the chicken was so fantastic, it alone would have been worth the price of admission, so to speak.

Speaking of prices, Mama D’s is incredibly fair. They offer different specials at lunch and dinner which make them EVEN more affordable. You get a great deal of delicious food for a very fair price. What more could you ask for?

Italians are known for living large – and when you eat genuine, authentic Italian food, that attitude comes through in every single bite. I’ve never, ever, ever seen this truth played out more beautifully than at Mama D’s.

You simply have to find your way to Calvert City, Kentucky as soon as you possibly can and enjoy an authentic Italian meal that’ll leave you utterly speechless.

In fact, if we’re anywhere near Lake Barkley or Kentucky Lake, you can almost certainly find us at one of the wonderful Willow Pond restaurants. Depending upon which end of the lakes or Land Between the Lakes we happen to be in at the time – we either eat at the Willow Pond in Aurora, Kentucky or the Willow Pond in Calvert City, Kentucky.

Both have outstanding beans, appetizers, potatoes, coleslaw, and catfish. The fried catfish, the grilled catfish, and the blackened catfish will make you cry with joy.

But they’re more than just excellent catfish – the Willow Pond restaurants also serve some of the best white beans, coleslaw, and hushpuppies any restaurant could ever hope to serve.

The beans are wonderful, on their own, but when you add the AMAZING red pepper relish that sits on each table, it’s a whole new beautiful experience altogether.

Wednesday, after spending the afternoon at The Homeplace, we ate at the Willow Pond in Aurora. The catfish, hush puppies, and sides were all as excellent as ever. You can order either mayonnaise coleslaw or vinegar coleslaw. I honestly can’t tell you anything about the mayo coleslaw because we always order the vinegar coleslaw. It’s just so ridiculously wonderful and tangy that we can’t even try the other.

Delicious Beans and Hushpuppies at Aurora’s Willow Pond

The hush puppies are ridiculously delicious and are also great dipped in the beans…. oh, man am I making myself hungry right now…

While we were at the 1880’s Homeplace, Michael struck up a conversation with a man about catfish and restaurants. The man named his favorite catfish restaurant (also very good, by the way) and Michael said that we LOVED Willow Pond’s catfish. The man said he didn’t like Willow Pond! What?!?! If I’d been there I’d have kicked him in the shins!

Well, it turns out, he’d never been to the Willow Pond in Aurora or the Willow Pond in Calvert City. He’d only been to another Willow Pond… which will remain nameless because we didn’t have a very good experience there either. Shhhh….

Michael told this man what I’m telling you: If you haven’t been to the Willow Pond in Aurora or the Willow Pond in Calvert City – you haven’t been to Willow Pond. Since he cleared things up, I guess there’s no cause for a kick in the shins.

White Beans and Vinegar Coleslaw

I’d also, very much, like to tell you something about the wonderful people at Aurora’s Willow Pond: These are outstanding, beautiful, friendly people. As my grandmother would have worded it, “These are good people.” As I would (and do) word it, “They’re quality people. The kind the world needs a lot more of.”

Each time we’ve ever been, we’re struck by the warmth and friendliness of the people. We had a new server this time, but I knew the minute I saw her big beautiful smile that she “fit” Aurora’s Willow Pond the way their hush puppies fit my hand… perfectly! I didn’t catch the young brunette’s name but if she had been any happier I’d think she had Johnny Depp, Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Robert Downey, Jr. and Will Smith all waiting for her at home. One for each day of the week.

Nah. She wouldn’t have been any happier or nicer even if she had a buffet of actors. This brunette lit up the restaurant with her smile and, don’t tell anyone but she could do better than any of the aforementioned men.

Yes, Michael, even Denzel.

The next time you’re at Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Land Between the Lakes – promise me you’ll visit the Willow Pond Catfish Restaurant in Aurora or the Willow Pond in Calvert City. Heck, don’t wait until you’re in the area – just GO.

Do what we often do.. we go for Willow Pond catfish and see the sights while we’re there!

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